In December 2019 the International Tennis Federation has reported an anti-doping rule violation against the Peruvian tennis player Arklon Huertas del Pino after his sample tested positive for the prohibited substance Cannabis in a concentration above the WADA threshold.
After notification a provisional suspension was ordered. The Athlete filed a statement in his defence and he was heard for the ITF Independent Tribunal.
The Athlete gave a prompt admission, denied the intentional use of the substance and requested for a reduced sanction. He explained that prior to the competition and unrelated to sport he had smoked recreational a large joint and Cannabis cigarettes. He asserted that there are grounds for No Significant Fault or Negligence since personal use of Cannabis in Peru is legal, he had limited anti-doping education and he believed the substance would only last in is system for a few hours.
The Tribunal accepts that the violation was not intentional but finds that there are no grounds to reduce the sanction because of No Significant Fault or Negligence. Considering the Athlete's conduct in this case the Tribunal deems that he had acted with indifference and negligence as a professional tennis player.
Therefore the ITF Independent Tribunal decides on 15 May 2020 to impose a 2 year period of ineligibility on the Athlete starting on the date of the sample collection, i.e. on 24 October 2019.
